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Lately, I have been receiving articles from good Catholic families, about how 2-children family have contributed to the closing of Catholic schools and that NFP is just another form of contraception, since a good Catholic has a large family. We personally have two special needs daughters and will hopefully have another child in a couple of years. Is it wrong to want a smaller family especially if you feel already overwhelmed, and finances are very tight, (sometimes nonexistent). I was taught that NFP was morally acceptable to space children for just reasons, (and to always remain open to life). While some parents may be selfish with family size, what if there are some parents who do better with smaller families? Any Church teachings on family size? Besides, how do we truly know why a family is small, should we stop focusing on size, and just be there to lend support?

Posted on Jul 1st, 2013 at 1:25 PM by Melissa

Hi Melissa,
I agree with all of your points. The church only says that married couples need to be open to life, but a family that has one or two kids (or no kids, in the case of infertility), is no less Catholic than a family with ten kids. People who make you feel otherwise are simply wrong (and judgmental and insensitive). Some people can handle lots of kids, but others can't for various reasons. It is not our place to judge. Further, it is not possible to use NFP as contraception, since those who use NFP to avoid do nothing to prevent conception. Contraception, on the other hand, involves doing something that will lead to conception and then doing another thing to prevent the natural end of the first act. In the case of NFP, the couple is doing nothing in the first place. Very different.

Posted on Jul 1st, 2013 at 3:44 PM by MR

I totally agree that NFP is different from contraception. I also agree that not everyone is called to have a large family, and we should not assume that people who limit their family size are doing so for selfish reasons. As long as they remain open to life, I think they deserve to be given the benefit of the doubt.

Posted on Jul 1st, 2013 at 5:43 PM by Claire S

In her wisdom, the Church has always asked that married couples be generous & open to life...such generosity & openness can mean different things for different couples according to their various circumstances. -- Asking prayers for an 11-year boy named Isaac who was seriously hurt after being hit by a car while riding a bike on Saturday. Thank you!

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